VOTER POWER

Race

Myth: Since Ronald Reagan popularized the expression in 1976, the “welfare queen” has remained one of our most durable racist myths.Fact: Most welfare recipients are white, and poor African-Americans are no more likely to draw welfare benefits than poor whites.

Many Americans would like to think that the Civil War and the Civil Rights Act effectively ended racism. They would also like to think that minority populations consume the great bulk of welfare, destroying their work ethic and creating a culture of dependency and violence. Government intervention only makes things worse with what some call “reverse” discrimination.

Despite great progress, racism remains a real problem in our country and a dispiriting force against the equality of opportunity we cherish. While we may have made some great strides, there’s still work to be done, especially in the criminal justice system.

If you followed the stories about the Alabama senatorial election, in which Democrat Doug Jones barely squeaked out a win against opponent Roy Moore, you’ve probably read a lot about voter suppression tactics being used to discourage black voters from getting to the...

Myth: Since Ronald Reagan popularized the expression in 1976, the “welfare queen” has remained one of our most durable racist myths. Fact: Most welfare recipients are white, and poor African-Americans are no more likely to draw welfare benefits than poor whites....